Raids will help put stopper on local ice trade, cop says

UPDATE 2.20pm: A SERIES of raids on properties at Lismore and Casino today will have a "significant impact" on the local drug trade, one of the Northern Rivers most senior police officers has said.

Richmond Local Area Command crime manager, Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay, said the charges flowing from the raids related to the "large commercial supply of ice".

"This is such a destructive drug," Det Insp Lindsay said.

"It destroys families, it destroys young peoples' lives. It's very concerning for police."

Det Insp Lindsay urged anyone with information on the sale or distribution of ice to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Lismore drug raid:
Rodney Stevens reports from the scene of a drugs raid at a Lismore business that netted a haul of drugs and guns.

UPDATE 12pm: THE three men arrested this morning after being stopped in an orange Holden Commodore on the Pacific Motorway north of Tugun have been charged with a variety of offences.

The driver, a 25-year-old man, and passengers, a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, were arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station after police discovered the drug ice in the vehicle with them.

Following their arrest, police conducted search warrants at eight homes in and around Lismore and Casino.

During the search warrants, police located and seized a further amount of drugs, illegal firearms, and other items.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with supplying prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, 16 counts of supplying an indictable quantity of drugs, supplying commercial quantity of drugs, conspiring to supply an indictable quantity of drugs, seven counts of illegal sale of firearms, and direct activities of criminal group.

Another 25-year-old man was charged with supplying prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, 16 counts of supplying an indictable quantity of drugs, supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, and participating in a criminal group.

The 26-year-old man was charged with conspiring to supply an indictable quantity of drugs, five counts of supplying an indictable quantity of drugs, and participating in criminal group.

All three are expected to appear at Lismore Local Court today.

During one of the search warrants at a home in North Lismore, a 38-year-old man was also arrested and he is currently assisting police with inquiries.

INITIAL REPORT 10.45am: POLICE have arrested three men over drugs and illegal firearms overnight.

Detectives from Richmond Local Area Command formed Strike Force Mitla to investigate the supply of ice and the illegal sale of firearms in the Casino and Lismore area.

About 1.50am today, following investigations, police stopped a vehicle on the M1 Motorway north of Tugan.

The driver, a 25-year-old, and passengers, a 26-year-old and a 25-year-old, were arrested.

During a search of the vehicle, police located and seized an amount of drugs believed to be methylamphetamines (Ice).

Police also located an amount of the drugs on the 25-year-old passenger.

Following their arrest, police conducted search warrants at eight homes in and around Lismore and Casino where they located and seized a further amount of drugs, illegal firearms and other items.

The three were taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and charged with numerous offences.